Antibacterial function of neutrophil leukocytes and peritoneal macrophages in their interaction with massive doses of Staphylococcus aureus (25 x 10(6) and 25 x 10(8) microorganisms) has been studied in the experiment in vivo. Two types of antibacterial reaction of phagocytes has been found, i.e. nonphlogogenic (physiological) and phlogogenic (inflammatory). nonphlogogenic type was characterized by marked antibacterial influence of phagocytes. phlogogenic reaction was accompanied by an increase of failure of phagocyte function, by their self-damage and break-up that leads to a decrease of their antibacterial activity followed by the inflammation.